Rail joint



` Dec. 28 1926.

, M, PENTLAND RAIL JOINT Filed August 1 1925- r u Yi.

@Houma Patented Dec. 2S, 1926.

lrlhllvll S'lATES MOSES ENTLAND, OF NEVBEERY, MCHGAN.

BAIL JOINT.

Application led August 1, 1925. Serial No. 47,520.

This invention relates to improvements iu rail joints, and has for its principal object to provide a mea-ns for connecting the abutting ends of a pair of aligned rails togethcr in such a manner as to prevent the hammering', or altering of the ends of the rails as well as eliminating the usual clicknoises incident to the wheels of a car passing over the abutting ends of the rails.

A further object is to provide a rail joint of the above mentioned character wherein the same includes a base plate for supporting the rails in ali, 'ning relation, and which will prevent the lateral creeping of the rails.

A further object is to provide a rail joint of the above mentioned character, which is siin )le in construction, inexpensive, strong and durable and further well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed. n

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the. course ot the following description taken in connection with the accompanying' drawing.

in the accompanying Vdrawing forming a l5 part of this application and in which like numerals ,designate like parts throughout the saine: t

Figure 1 is a side elevation or" the outer plate, and the base plate showing the saine secured with Vrespect to the abutting ends of a pair of rails.

Figure 2 is a top plan view. ldiggin'e 3 is a sectional view taken approximately on line 3 3 of Figure 2, and

Figure l is a detail perspective view of the outer fish plate.

ln the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numerals 1 and 2 designate the end portions of a pair of aligned abutting rails of' the usual construcfion. For the purpose of securing the rails on the usual cross ties in proper aligning relation, and to further prevent the lateral creeping of the rails, l provide the base plate designated by the numeral 3, the saine being provided at its longitudinal side edges with the upstanding flanges l and 5 respectively. rlhe upper portion of the flange 5 is disposed inwardly as at 6, and extends over the inner longitudinal side edge of the base of the rails 1 and 2 in the manner as more clearly illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. The base plate 3 is of a greater width than the base of the rails so as to provide a space 7 between the outer longitudinal side edge of the base of the rails, and the adjacent side of the longitudinally extending flange l which is formed on the outer longitudinal side edge of the base plate. Suitable notches or cut out portions 8 are formed in each of the flanges Jfor receiving the usual fastening spikes which are to be driven into the ties (not shown) whereby the base plate is secured rigidly on the tie.

An inner fish plate 9 of any well known construction extends longitudinally adjacent the inner side of the webs of the abutting rails 1 and 2, the upper edge of the fish plate 9 being disposed below the tread portion or ball of the rail while the lower edge rests on the base port-ion of the rail in the manner clearly illustrated in Figure 3.

The outer fish plate is designated generally by the numeral 10, and the same is adapted to be disposed adjacent the outer sides of the webs of the aligned abutting rails 1 and 2 in the manner as clearly illustrated in the drawing. Extending laterally, and slightly downwardly from the lower portion of the outer fish plate l0 is the base flange 11, the same being adapted to engage the base of the abutting rails. A downwardly extending tongue 12 is formed on the outer longitudinal edge of' thebase flange 11, and this tongue is adapted to be received within the space 7, the inner side of the tongue engaging the outer edge of the base flanges of the abutting rails, while the outer side of the tongue engages the inner side of the upstanding outer flange l formed on the base plate 3.

The intermediate portion of the outer fish plate 10 is thickened on the outer side as indicated at 13, the end portions gradually decreasing in thickness from its center toward the end as indicated at 14. The upper portion of the thickened portion 13 extends above the upper edge of the fish plate, and provides the longitudinally extending tread portion 15, the ends of which gradually taper downwardly toward the outer edge of the upper face of the outer fish plate 10, as indicated at 16. This construction is more clearly illustrated in Figure l of the drawing. Y

The outer fish plate 10 is provided with the openings 17 which register with similar openings formed in the inner fish plate whereby the fastening bolts 18 extend therethrough and through registering openings provided therefor in the web portions of toV the abutting rails, and suitable lock nuts 19 are threaded on the threaded ends of the bolts, whereby the lish plates are secured on opposite sides of the Webs ot the rails, the upper' edge of the outer lish plate l() engaging the under side ot' the tread portion 2 of the abutting rails while the tread portion l ot the thickenedL intermediate portion i3 lits against the outer edges ot' the tread poi'- tions of the abutting rails, and the upper face of the tread portion is tiush With thel upper face or ball portion of the abutting rails. ln this manner, the point at which the rails l and 2 abut will be ot relativelv great thickness or Width, and it is obvious that when the Wheels of a train pass over the joints, the tread portion l5 Will tend to relieve the strain placed on the tread portions of the abutting rails, and Will furthermore prevent the hammering or battering ot the ends oi the fails as Well as prevent the usual `Clicking noises in'eident to the Wheels oil' a car passing over the abutting ends o a pair of aligned rails,

A rail joint of the above mentioned character may be readily and easily installed in use With rails oi' the conventional construetion, and the provision of the base plate will prevent the rails from being moved out oi alignment, as Well as eliminating the lateral creeping of the rails, thus preventing any serious accidents occurring due to the rails being moved out ol alignment.

rlhe simplicity in which my improved rail -ioint is constructed renders the same very inexpensive, yet strong and durable, and when installed Will at all times be positive in carrying out the purposes Yfor which it is designed.

While I have shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that minor changes in the size, shape, and

a `gement of parts may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit ot the invention and the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what lf claim is:-

A rail joint comprising in combination, a p et aligned abutting rails, a base plate the eter, said base plate being of greater width than the bases ot' the aforinentioned rails, upstanding Hang-es at the sides el the base plate, the inner {lange being of a greater' height than the outer liange, said inner ianrfe abutting the longitudinal edges ot the rail bases, the upper portion of said liange being bent and disposed inwardly over the innerl longitudinal edge portions ot the bases of the abutting rails, the outer side flange ot said base plate being spaced from the outer side edges of the rail bases, and inner and outer fish plates secured on the opposite sie es of the Web portions of the Vabutting rails, a base flange formed on the lower portion of the outer plate and extending over the enter base flanges of the abutting rails, and a depending tongue formed on the outer edge of the aforementioned base vlange, said tongue extending downwardly in the space -formed betweenthe outer longitudinal edges oit the abutting rails and the outer side flange et the base plate, the bottom edge of the depending tongue engaging the upper face ot the base plate, the inner side ot' the depending tongue the outer longitudinal edges ot the rail bases, the outer side of the depending vtongue being in engagement With the inner side of the upst-anding flange formed at the outer edge of the base plate.

ln testimony whereof I affix my signature.

MOSES PENTLAND. 

